JJHACK
Member
There is a false sense of security with a firearm where bears are concerned. Having been in this line of work as an African Professional hunter. I have had to follow up animals that fight back. I have also been knocked down clawed and chewed by a bear in Washington state, while I had a Ruger Redhawk loaded with hot 300 Grain XTP bullets and Randy Garretts ammo in my holster.
Some observations with a reality perspective are in order. If you are knowingly entering an area you truly believe to be at risk for an attack, you need to prepare with prudent choices.
For starters every single person in the party needs to be familiar with the gun. It will do no good at all if it's on the hip of the person being mauled. Nor will it leaned against a tree while your wife or children are watching you get chewed because they cannot operate the weapon.
If your team on this trip cannot all manipulate the weapon effectively then you have some serious handicap issues that should lead to a change of back country locations. Seriously, if you have the certain likely hood in your mind that bears can cause you trouble, then you need to prepare. If you don't have any chance of a problem you don't need a gun.
Would you race a car with a marginal roll cage? Parachute with a low cost chute? Scuba dive with a questionable tank? jump a dirt bike with a bicycle helmet? etc.
It's this wide line in the sand that creates some kind of romance in packing a bear killing crumpling weapon. Few folks on the adventure will master the 44 mag revolver. Furthermore it's on the hip of only one person. A long gun like a 20 gage shotgun is a far better option. Not many bears are going to handle the pounding of 6 shots of buck into the head and shoulders. This can be handled by most everyone in a group. This will not work well for the poor sap under a bear being chewed on while his teenage daughter is required to shoot the bear off of dad with BUCKSHOT!
There is not good option here, and Bear spray may be the absolute worst idea possible. I used bear spray on snared bears to see it's effects several times. After about the third time, with the wind wrong I was blinded and had my eyes watering for 30 minutes. Another issue is that it only contains a full power stream for a few squirts. Most team members will discharge the bulk of this well before the bear is in range. Then the stream gets shorter and wider, and before you know it the can is empty and your own eyes and nose are burning so bad you're not only under attack but now you can no longer see either.
If everyone has a can and they all start with the spray most of you will certainly get blinded with the wind moving it through the area. If you have never felt this in your eyes, it's impressive to say the least. I'm not suggesting its always a bad idea. It's just high risk for your team as well. I had hunters in Alaska spray the bushes around the camp with a can one night. As if this was a deterent? It requires some education for the majority to grasp the use. The biggest struggle is spraying the contents when a bear is seen long before the bear is close enough to be effected.
The old story of any gun is better then a sharp stick is probably fair and true. But consider the situation with a dose of reality. If you just want to buy and pack a gun for "bears" do what ever you want. If you are absolutely and truly going into bear country with the serious need for protection, then your whole group needs training and practice. You having a gun when you're being mauled is of no use.
Mine was on my hip, I was hit from behind and knocked flat, all the air out of my lungs and I could not breath on gasp of air. It was several seconds before I came around to realize what was happening. When I considered the gun and moved to get it, that bear bit at my shoulder and the back of my neck with a vengeance until I laid still. Moving to reach the gun just triggered it's biting more.
When you put yourself in a situation of danger, that gun must be in your hands. If you have a shotgun or long gun, NO SLING!
A slung gun or holstered gun is worthless as I have experienced, it must be in your hands. If you're not focused and dedicated to the point of walking the bush with a gun held in your hands, then you're not really scared and in danger, right? Somebody in the group needs to hold the gun. Pass it around taking turns if need be. Where Grizzly and Brown bears are concerned at least a 30/06 rifle, or a 20 gage minimum should be used. A 12 gage is far better, but it must be used by the group. Multiple guns of different types would be best for the whole group.
Some observations with a reality perspective are in order. If you are knowingly entering an area you truly believe to be at risk for an attack, you need to prepare with prudent choices.
For starters every single person in the party needs to be familiar with the gun. It will do no good at all if it's on the hip of the person being mauled. Nor will it leaned against a tree while your wife or children are watching you get chewed because they cannot operate the weapon.
If your team on this trip cannot all manipulate the weapon effectively then you have some serious handicap issues that should lead to a change of back country locations. Seriously, if you have the certain likely hood in your mind that bears can cause you trouble, then you need to prepare. If you don't have any chance of a problem you don't need a gun.
Would you race a car with a marginal roll cage? Parachute with a low cost chute? Scuba dive with a questionable tank? jump a dirt bike with a bicycle helmet? etc.
It's this wide line in the sand that creates some kind of romance in packing a bear killing crumpling weapon. Few folks on the adventure will master the 44 mag revolver. Furthermore it's on the hip of only one person. A long gun like a 20 gage shotgun is a far better option. Not many bears are going to handle the pounding of 6 shots of buck into the head and shoulders. This can be handled by most everyone in a group. This will not work well for the poor sap under a bear being chewed on while his teenage daughter is required to shoot the bear off of dad with BUCKSHOT!
There is not good option here, and Bear spray may be the absolute worst idea possible. I used bear spray on snared bears to see it's effects several times. After about the third time, with the wind wrong I was blinded and had my eyes watering for 30 minutes. Another issue is that it only contains a full power stream for a few squirts. Most team members will discharge the bulk of this well before the bear is in range. Then the stream gets shorter and wider, and before you know it the can is empty and your own eyes and nose are burning so bad you're not only under attack but now you can no longer see either.
If everyone has a can and they all start with the spray most of you will certainly get blinded with the wind moving it through the area. If you have never felt this in your eyes, it's impressive to say the least. I'm not suggesting its always a bad idea. It's just high risk for your team as well. I had hunters in Alaska spray the bushes around the camp with a can one night. As if this was a deterent? It requires some education for the majority to grasp the use. The biggest struggle is spraying the contents when a bear is seen long before the bear is close enough to be effected.
The old story of any gun is better then a sharp stick is probably fair and true. But consider the situation with a dose of reality. If you just want to buy and pack a gun for "bears" do what ever you want. If you are absolutely and truly going into bear country with the serious need for protection, then your whole group needs training and practice. You having a gun when you're being mauled is of no use.
Mine was on my hip, I was hit from behind and knocked flat, all the air out of my lungs and I could not breath on gasp of air. It was several seconds before I came around to realize what was happening. When I considered the gun and moved to get it, that bear bit at my shoulder and the back of my neck with a vengeance until I laid still. Moving to reach the gun just triggered it's biting more.
When you put yourself in a situation of danger, that gun must be in your hands. If you have a shotgun or long gun, NO SLING!
A slung gun or holstered gun is worthless as I have experienced, it must be in your hands. If you're not focused and dedicated to the point of walking the bush with a gun held in your hands, then you're not really scared and in danger, right? Somebody in the group needs to hold the gun. Pass it around taking turns if need be. Where Grizzly and Brown bears are concerned at least a 30/06 rifle, or a 20 gage minimum should be used. A 12 gage is far better, but it must be used by the group. Multiple guns of different types would be best for the whole group.
And I would leave the .357 at home.
